Blast furnace bin



n- 1941- A. J. BOYNTON ETAL I 2,227,955

BLAST FURNACE BIN Filed Aug. 28, 1939 Patented Jan. 7, 1941 v BLAST FURNACE BIN Arthur J. Boynton, Winnetka, and Harold K.

Smith, Chicago, 111., assignors toll. A. Brassert & Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 28, 1939, Serial No. 292,210

3 Claims. 01. 209-457) This invention relates to new and improved material handling apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus adapted both to separate material into diflerent sizes and to selectively de- 5 liver it as required.

While the invention may be used for other purposes, it is particularly applicable to the handling of material for charging blast furnaces or they like. It is often desirable'ior metallurgical reasons related to the operation of the furnace, to

separate flne material from coarse material in order to charge them separately into the furnace.

The present invention may be carried out by using the ordinary bins and lorry car or scale car in the customary manner. With previously used apparatus and methods, such separation of the charge into different sizes has required an extra handling of the material through a screenin station.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for delivering material from storage means to a movable receptacle or conveyor, said apparatus also serving to separate the material according to size.

It is a further, object to provide means of this character with which the separated material may be selectively discharged into the movable receptacle.

It is also an object to provide means whereby the same driving mechanism serves to cause both the separating action and the selective delivery of the separated material.

It is an additional object to provide a construction in which the driving mechanism may 3 be carried upon the movable receptacle, such as a lorry or scale car, and may be operatively connected to different deli ery apparatus as desired. Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds. 4 We have shown one form of apparatus according to the present invention somewhat diagram matically in the single figure of the accompanying drawing.

The bin l is provided with a lower opening I2 adapted to discharge material from the bin into a tray l3. This tray I3 is hung from the bin structure by hangers H and I5, which are provided with cushioning means i6 and IT. The

50 main portion of the bottom of the tray I3 is solidly closed, but an intermediate portion i8 is formed with openings or perforations to permit'material smaller in size than the openings to fall into thelower tray IS. The tray |3.has 65 the cross bar 20 secured thereto adjacent the discharge end to serve as a connecting means for the vibrator 2|,

The tray i9 is suspended below tray 3 by the links 22 and 23. The tray I9 has a closed bottOm'and, at its right or delivery end as seen in the drawing, is provided with a swinging gate 24 hung on the pivot 25. A stop 26 limits inward swinging movement of the upper portion of the gate. The gate 24 is provided with the lugs 21 carrying the cross bar 28 for operating the door 10 and vibrating the tray.

The lorry or scale car 29 is shown as traveling on tracks 30, so that it may be brought into receiving position below the trays I3 and 2|. The vibrator 2| is supported upon the scale car 29 10 by the framework 3|, from which it is suspended by hanger 32 having cushioning means 33. The rear adjusting cylinder 34 is connected to the vibrator 2| by rod 35. The forward lifting cylinder 36 is connected to the actuating arm 31 of the 20 vibrator by the rod 38. The actuating arm 31 is provided with the downwardly opening forked portion 39 adapted to selectively engage either the bar 20 of tray i3 or the cross bar 28 of the lower tray I9. 20

The vibrator 2| may be of any standard construction and since its details of construction form no part of the present invention, they need not be described. It is a power operated apparatus adapted to effectively vibrate any material supporting tray or conveyor to which it may be connected to cause material to flow over and discharge from the vibrated material support. It will be apparent that, by operation of the cylinders 34 and 36, the vibrator may be brought into operative connection with the tray l3, as shown in full lines in the drawing, or into connection with the lower tray H, as shown in broken lines. When the forked portion 39 of the vibrator actu- 40 ating arm 31 engages the cross bar 28 on the gate 24 of the lower tray, the vibrator is moved to the left by the adjusting cylinder 34 to open the gate against the stop 26. The vibrator is then put in operation and vibrates the tray Hi to deliver material therefrom into the car 29, while also serving to hold the gate 24 open.

It will be apparent from the above description, taken in connection with the drawing, that the construction of the present invention serves to screen material during the delivery operation and to separately and selectively deliver the material to the scale car. A sufficient portion of the bot tom of the tray I3 is solid so that the tray serves to seal off the storage bin against loss of material when the tray is not vibrated. This tray acts, therefore, as a closure or gate for the bin.

Approximately horizontal transfer of material from either tray to the scale car is effected by the vibration transmitted to the tray from the vibrator carried by the car. It is not necessary to provide separate vibrators for each bin or tray as the car when in position to receive material from any bin provides the power for the delivery therefrom.

While one preferred form of construction has been shown, this is to be understood to be illustrative only, as the apparatus is capable of change andmodification to meet difiering conditions and requirements. ,Other forms of bins and of trays may be used and other forms of apparatus for carrying away the material discharged from the trays. We contemplate, therefore, such changes and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Material handling apparatus comprising storage means for the material, a delivery tray located to receive material from the storage means, a portion of the tray being provided with openings to form a screen, a receptable located below the screen portion of the tray, movable means adapted to receive material from the delivery tray and the lower receptable, and vibrator mechanism having connecting means for selective connection to the tray or receptacle Lt vibrate either of said units to cause discharge therefrom onto the movable means.

2. Material handling apparatus comprising storage means for the material, a delivery tray located to receive material from the storage means, a portion of the tray being provided with openings to form a screen, a receptacle located below the screen portion of the tray, a normally closed end gate for said receptacle, movable means adapted to receive material from the delivery tray and the lower receptacle, and vibrator mechanism having connecting means for selective connection to the tray or receptacle to vibrate either of said units to cause discharge therefrom onto the movable means and to open the end gate of the receptacle when connected thereto.

3. Material handling apparatus comprising storage bins for the material, a delivery tray located below a bin, said tray having a solid bottom portion serving as a closure for said bin and receiving material therefrom, a further portion of the tray being provided with openings to form a screen, a receptacle located below the screen portion of the tray, a movable car adapted to receive material from the tray and the lower receptacle, and vibrator mechanism having connecting means for selective connection to the tray or receptacle to vibrate either of said units, vibration of the tray causing material to flowover the screen portion and over the discharge end of the tray, vibration of the receptacle serving to cause material dropping into the receptacle from the tray through the screen to flow over the discharge end of the receptacle.

' ARTHUR J. BOYNTON.

HAROLD K. SMITH. 

